Le 10 Sport report that Championship side Aston Villa’s scouts in France in recent weeks have been impressed by the performances of two Ligue 1 players.

They are Sada Thioub, newly-promoted Ligue 1 side Nîmes’ 23-year-old winger and Angers central midfielder Baptiste Santamaria, the latter of whom is still attracting attention from St Étienne and Bordeaux.